You can see the editor is made up of different sections. You make your code in the Code Area, dragging out blocks from theCode Drawer.You can immediately see your code results in the micro:bit simulator.

At the bottom is also where you download and save your project.

Next, we’ll take a closer look at how to use the Options Bar for doing other things.

Options Bar

Manage your projects here. You can Create and Import projects here.

Open up the Blocks interface, to write your scripts with the Block editor

Open up the Javascript interface, to type out your script in the Javascript language.

Handy reference when you’re unsure about how the various blocks and functions work.

Shortcuts to changing project properties. Rename and Delete your projects here. “Reset” deletes all the projects that you have saved. Be very careful. Most of the time, you’ll just want to stick to Delete Project.

Using the LED display

We’re going to start writing some code! Each time you select from the Code Drawer, it will list all the codes available to you. Drag out the show string block and click inside the box to edit.

See what happens in the micro:bit simulator!

Say Hello!

The text you’ve been displaying are called “strings”.

You can also show any integer on the LED screen using show number

Or any 5x5 pixel image using show leds

You can also plot 1 point at a time, using co-ordinates

(0, 0) is the top left hand corner

Joining Blocks

Click and hold the block you want to join

Drag it to the target block, until a side of the target block is highlighted

Release, and the two blocks are now joined!

Clicking on the first block will move the second; clicking on the second will detach it from the first.

Activity

Display “I love microbit!” on the LED screen

Or choose your own message, sure

Draw a 5 x 5 pixel smiley face, and display it on the LED screen

Can you make it alternate between smiling and frowning?

Display 7, -5, 2, and 10 in order to the LED screen

Do they display differently? Why?

Hint: you may want to use the Pause block if a number goes away very quickly

Get these working on the micro:bit itself! Scroll down for instructions, or try it out on your own.

Testing on micro:bit

Connect the micro:bit to your computer using a micro-USB cable.

It’ll go through a default sequence, asking you to press buttons and play a game. Try it out!

Select the big Download button to translate your script to a hex file and download it

If you set Chrome up properly, you don’t need this next step: Drag the downloaded hex file to the micro:bit “drive” that shows up, or right click and Send To in Windows.

You’ve programmed your very own device!

Answers

Display “I love microbit!” on the LED screen

Or choose your own message, sure

Draw a 5 x 5 pixel smiley face, and display it on the LED screen

Can you make it alternate between smiling and frowning?

Display 7, -5, 2, and 10 in order to the LED screen

Do they display differently? Why?

Hint: you may want to use the Pause block if a number goes away very quickly

We're Done!

Looking for more projects to tinker and explore? We're a launch partner for IMDA's Digital Maker Programme, where we've been developing micro:bit kits, apps, and conducting workshops for schools and the public in Singapore. Read more here, and get in touch if you'd like to join our workshops!

About Tinkercademy

We’re coders and tinkerers who teach coding and tinkering to schools, corporations, and the public in Singapore. We bring an unparallelled depth of experience in education and technology to our classes and curriculum.